Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
IV. Dāna Vagga
The Book of Eights
Sutta 31
Dāna Suttaṃ
Giving
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time the Lucky Man Sāvatthī-town residing,
Jeta Grove,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
There the The Lucky Man said this to the beggars:
"Beggars!"
"Bhante!" they replied, and the Lucky Man said:
"There are these eight givings.
What eight?
Giving gifts at opportunity's knock.
Giving gifts in fear.
Giving gifts thinking: 'He gave to me.'
Giving gifts thinking: 'He will give to me.'
Giving gifts thinking: 'It is well to give.'
Giving gifts thinking:
'I cook, these do not cook,
ignoble of me, who cooks, it would be,
not to give to those who do not cook.'[1]
Giving gifts thinking:
'This my giving gifts, will give rise to a useful sound repute.'
Giving gifts because it is part of everything that belongs to beautification of the heart.
These then, beggars, are the eight givings."
[1] In India at the time the person of lesser activity would be held in higher regard than the one with greater activity. Thus there was a moral obligation to support those of a higher calling.
